Media storage device adapter

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus for adapting a media storage device to hold media of a size different than that for which the storage device was originally designed. The adapter apparatus is: (1) configured in the same general size and shape as a first substantially planar media unit which a media storage device was initially designed to store; (2) when in use disposed, within the media storage device in substantially the same position and manner as the first substantially planar media unit is designed to be disposed within the media storage device; and (3) configured to be capable of storing media: (a) of a size different than that for which the media storage device was originally designed; and (b) planarly oriented more or less substantially orthogonal to the planar orientation intended for the media for which the media storage device was originally designed. The currently preferred embodiment of the invention adapts a CD tower for storage of somewhat smaller minidisks.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for adapting media storage devices comprising: a base platform comprising: left and right edges having a height of dimension substantially equivalent to a thickness of a first substantially planar media unit;   a width and depth of dimension substantially equivalent to a width and depth of the first substantially planar media unit;   an upper surface; and   a plurality of substantially parallel receptacles affixed to the upper surface of the base platform for receiving a second substantially planar media unit, and for stowing the second substantially planar media unit in planes substantially parallel with each other, and substantially orthogonal to the upper surface of the base platform, wherein the second substantially planar media unit has a depth and thickness that are different from the depth and thickness of the first substantially planar media unit respectively, and the receptacles further comprise and are formed by a plurality of ribs which are substantially parallel to each other and substantially orthogonal to the upper surface of the base platform, the ribs having a depth substantially similar to the depth of the second substantially planar media unit and being separated from each other by a dimension substantially similar to the thickness of the second substantially planar media unit.     
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second substantially planar media unit is smaller than the first substantially planar media unit. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second substantially planar media unit is a mini-disk, and the first substantially planar media unit is a CD jewel box. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base platform includes a ramp on its upper surface for facilitating easier insertion and removal of the second substantially planar media unit into and from the receptacle. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receptacles include a back rail for preventing insertion of the second substantially planar media unit beyond a fixed point. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base platform includes a tail region over which the receptacles do not extend. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the tail region includes an aperture suitable for hanging the apparatus from a hook. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the receptacles include means for storing media units that are thinner than the second substantially planar media unit. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: the second substantially planar media unit has a thickness;   the receptacles further comprise and are formed by a plurality of ribs having a length and which are: substantially parallel to each other;   substantially orthogonal to the upper surface of the base platform; and   separated from each other for a substantial portion, but not all, of their length by a dimension substantially similar to the thickness of the second substantially planar media unit; and     wherein the receptacles' means for storing media units that are thinner than the second substantially planar media unit further comprises a region within said receptacles wherein the dimension separating the ribs is smaller than the thickness of the second substantially planar media unit.   
     
     
       10. An apparatus for adapting a media storage device having a plurality of slots sized to receive and releasably retain a plurality of uniformly sized first substantially planar media units, the to apparatus comprising: a base platform having a width and depth that are substantially equivalent to a width and depth of the first substantially planar media units respectively, and having a first outer edge and a second outer edge that is parallel to the first outer edge, the first and second outer edges having a height that is substantially equivalent to a thickness of the first substantially planar media units, such that the base platform may be slid into and releasably retained by one of the plurality of slots of the media storage device, the base platform further having an upper surface and a plurality of substantially parallel receptacles affixed to the upper surface for receiving a plurality of second substantially planar media units, and for stowing the second substantially planar media units in planes substantially parallel with each other, and substantially orthogonal to the upper surface of the base platform.   
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second substantially planar media unit has a thickness, and the receptacles further comprise and are formed by a plurality of ribs which are: substantially parallel to each other;   substantially orthogonal to the upper surface of the base platform; and   separated from each other by a dimension substantially similar to the thickness of the second substantially planar media unit.   
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the second substantially planar media unit is smaller than the first substantially planar media unit. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the base platform includes a ramp on its upper surface for facilitating easier insertion and removal of the second substantially planar media unit into and from the receptacle. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the receptacles include means for storing media units that are thinner than the second substantially planar media unit. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second substantially planar media unit has a thickness and the receptacles further comprise and are formed by a plurality of ribs having a length and which are substantially parallel to each other and substantially orthogonal to the upper surface of the base platform, the ribs being separated from each other for a substantial portion, but not all, of their length by a dimension substantially similar to the thickness of the second substantially planar media unit, the dimension separating the ribs being smaller than the thickness of the second substantially planar media unit in a region within said receptacles, thereby allowing the receptacles to store media units that are thinner than the second substantially planar media units. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the receptacles include a back rail for preventing insertion of the second substantially planar media unit beyond a fixed point. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the base platform includes a tail region over which the receptacles do not extend. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus for adapting a media storage device having a plurality of slots sized to receive and releasably retain a plurality of first substantially planar media units, the apparatus comprising: a first base platform having a width and depth that are substantially equivalent to a width and depth respectively of the first substantially planar media units, and having a first outer edge and a second outer edge, the first and second outer edges being substantially parallel to each other and having a height that is substantially equivalent to a thickness of the first substantially planar media units, the first base platform further including an upper surface and a plurality of substantially parallel receptacles affixed to the upper surface of the first base platform for receiving a plurality of second substantially planar media units, and for stowing the second substantially planar media units in planes substantially parallel with each other and substantially orthogonal to the upper surface of the first base platform, the first base platform being positioned in a first slot of the media storage device; and   a second base platform having a width and depth that are substantially equivalent to the width and depth respectively of the first substantially planar media units, and having a first outer edge and a second outer edge, the first and second outer edges of the second base platform being substantially parallel and having a height that is substantially equivalent to the thickness of the first substantially planar media units, the second base platform further having an upper surface and a plurality of substantially parallel receptacles affixed to the upper surface of the second base platform for receiving a plurality of second substantially planar media units, and for stowing the second substantially planar media units in planes substantially parallel with each other and substantially orthogonal to the upper surface of the second base platform, the second base platform being positioned in a second slot of the media storage device, the first and second slots being spaced longitudinally by a height of the second substantially planar media units, the receptacles of the first base platform and the receptacles of the second base platform being open toward each other.   
     
     
       19. An apparatus for adapting a media storage device comprising: a base platform having left and right edges having a thickness of dimension substantially equivalent to a thickness of a first substantially planar media unit, the base platform having a width and depth substantially equivalent to a width and depth of the first substantially planar media unit, the base platform having an upper surface and a plurality of substantially parallel receptacles affixed to the upper surface of the base platform for receiving a second substantially planar media unit, and for stowing the second substantially planar media unit in planes substantially parallel with each other and substantially orthogonal to the upper surface of the base platform, the second substantially planar media unit being a mini-disk that is smaller than the first substantially planar media unit comprising a CD jewel box.   
     
     
       20. An apparatus for adapting a media storage device comprising: a base platform having left and right edges having a height that is substantially equivalent to a thickness of a first substantially planar media unit, the base platform having a width and depth of dimension substantially equivalent to a width and depth of the first substantially planar media unit, and having an upper surface and a plurality of substantially parallel receptacles affixed to the upper surface of the base platform for receiving a second substantially planar media unit, and for stowing the second substantially planar media unit in planes substantially parallel with each other and substantially orthogonal to the upper surface of the base platform, the base platform including a ramp on its upper surface for facilitating easier insertion and removal of the second substantially planar media unit into and from the receptacles.   
     
     
       21. An apparatus for adapting a media storage device comprising: a base platform having left and right edges having a height that is substantially equivalent to a thickness of a first substantially planar media unit, the base platform having a width and depth of dimension substantially equivalent to a width and depth of the first substantially planar media unit, and having an upper surface and a plurality of substantially parallel receptacles affixed to the upper surface of the base platform for receiving a second substantially planar media unit, and for stowing the second substantially planar media unit in planes substantially parallel with each other, and substantially orthogonal to the upper surface of the base platform, the base platform including a tail region over which the receptacles do not extend, an aperture suitable for hanging the apparatus from a hook being provided in the tail region.   
     
     
       22. An apparatus for adapting a media storage device comprising: a base platform having left and right edges having a height that is substantially equivalent to a thickness of a first substantially planar media unit, the base platform having a width and depth of dimension substantially equivalent to a width and depth of the first substantially planar media unit, and having an upper surface and a plurality of substantially parallel receptacles affixed to the upper surface of the base platform for receiving a second substantially planar media unit, and for stowing the second substantially planar media unit in planes substantially parallel with each other, and substantially orthogonal to the upper surface of the base platform, the receptacles including means for storing media units that are thinner than the second substantially planar media unit.